More About Devon

Situated in the South West of the UK, Devon is the perfect location for a family holiday, a short getaway or a vigorous adventure break. You'll find holiday cottages in Devon listed on our website situated near the popular towns of Torquay, Brixham and Paignton on the English Riviera. The welcoming beaches and cafés serving a variety of fresh seafood make the perfect setting for a seaside getaway. Cottages available to rent in Devon give you the perfect base from which to explore a number of interesting museums, beautiful stately homes and marine centres, with popular attractions for all the family such as the Bicton Park Botanical Gardens and the historic Dartmouth Castle. Rent a holiday cottage advertised with Cottages Direct and enjoy the best of this beautiful county.

Devon Cottages

Devon. The setting of a thousand childhood holidays, the home of clotted cream, pasties, two separate coastlines and part of the only natural UNESCO world heritage site in the UK. While the county does possess two sizeable cities (by Westcountry standards!) in the form of Exeter and Plymouth, a visit to Devon is about the many long sandy beaches with accompanying clear blue water, the fun-packed holiday resorts on both the north and the south coasts, the two stunning National Parks – and the slow, friendly way of life that makes relaxing in Devon so easy. The perfect place for a fun, relaxing holiday? Quite possibly.

As the fourth largest county in England, there’s a lot to offer in Devon. While beautiful, sandy beaches can be found on both coasts (the south abutting the English Channel and the north abutting the Bristol Channel), the north Devon coast has some of the finest. If you’re into surfing, Croyde Bay is perfect, offering a good level of swell and high quality sand banks – and if you want a bit more space, try Woolacombe Bay or Saunton Sands. To the south, the Torbay area offers popular beaches and lively nightlife; all wrapped up in an old Victorian resort feel. Inland areas are no less captivating. Whether you choose Dartmoor or Exmoor National Park, you’re guaranteed to be blown away by the wild beauty of these areas. In terms of activities, there’s a huge number to choose from: hill walking, hiking, rock climbing, horse riding and angling are all possible in these parks. Dartmoor in particular is unlike any other place in the UK.

Devon Attractions

We want you to enjoy the best that Devon has to offer and so here's a small selection of our favourite things to see and do.

Croyde Bay

You don’t have to be a surfer to visit Croyde Bay, where families and groups can enjoy the clean water and the soft, golden sand to their heart’s content. Sit down with a Devon ice cream or pasty in hand, and watch the waves crash on to the beach – or perhaps try the water yourself in the form of boogy boarding or just swimming. If you’re not a world class surfer yet, why not book some surfing lessons and see how well you take to it?

Horse and Pony Trekking on Dartmoor

Even if you’ve never sat on a horse or a pony before, there are numerous riding schools across Dartmoor that can help you share in the fun. Once you’ve gone a few hundred yards down one of the countless bridle paths that criss-cross the National Park, you’ll wonder why it took you so long to try it. Stunning volcanic tors, crystal clear rivers that snake through heather-covered valleys, and Bronze Age stone circles – all this and much more are just waiting to be discovered on horse or pony-back. It’s not that hard – we promise!

Clovelly, North Devon

Located near Bideford, the village of Clovelly is one of the most unique and pretty in England. Flower-covered cottages appear to clamber up a very steep 400-foot incline, and remind us of a long-gone England. There are no cars here – just donkeys and sledges – which only adds to the old-style feel. Explore little lanes that lead to tiny chapels and a multitude of nooks and crannies – all of which conspire to lock the modern world out – before enjoying a traditional and highly addictive Devonshire cream tea in one of the cafés. An intriguing and fun place to visit, no matter what your age.